Kareem Hunt has the opportunity to play for his hometown team, and now he wants to play for the Cleveland Browns for a long time.
Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt will be playing his first full season for his hometown team in 2020, and he would like if it was not his only full season wearing the brown and orange for Cleveland.
Hunt said Monday during a video conference with the media there is “no question” he would like to stay with the Browns for the long term. The 24-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2020 season after signing a one-year tender as a restricted free agent this offseason.
The Browns and former general manager John Dorsey were willing to take a chance with Hunt after he was cut by the Chiefs and suspended by the league after a video was released showing Hunt assaulting a woman.
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#Browns RB Kareem Hunt said "no question" he would like to be with the team long term.
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) June 22, 2020
Hunt was suspended the first eight games of the 2019 season because of the incident, delaying his debut with the Browns. Once he was able to take the field for the Browns, he showed he can create a dynamic duo with Nick Chubb.
Although Hunt was the league’s leading rusher in 2017, the Browns primarily used Hunt as a receiver out of the backfield compared to him running the football. In eight games last season with the Browns, Hunt rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries, while also catching 37 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown.
Hunt did say he liked being used as a receiver last season, and he could become a swiss-army knife for the Browns in 2020 as a receiver and as a rusher. Also, Hunt has a chance to thrive as a rusher in Kevin Stefanski’s wide-zone rushing scheme.
However, if Hunt excels in 2020, it would become increasingly unlikely the Browns would offer Hunt a lucrative multi-year deal he would desire. Signing running backs to big salaries on a second contract is becoming extremely infrequent in the NFL, especially with teams who rely on analytics, such as the Browns.
Also, Cleveland has other big extensions they will need to work out in the next few seasons, including Baker Mayfield and Myles Garrett. Chubb signing an extension could also be a possibility considering he has proven to be one of the best young backs in the NFL, but it will depend on how the Browns front office feels about paying running backs.
Although Hunt would love to sign an extension with the Browns next offseason, it seems more likely 2020 will be his last season playing for his hometown team. Even if the Browns do decide to pay a running back, it would make more sense to pay Chubb instead of Hunt.